Floor plank with adhesive portion able to adjust the position

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a double-layered floor plank sheet having a non-adhesive portion, more particularly to a floor plank sheet enabling adjustment of position during installation. When the upper layer of a floor plank sheet is bonded to the lower layer of another floor plank sheet, a non-adhesive portion formed in part of an adhesive portion enables the adjustment of position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims all benefits of Korean Patent Application No.20-2007-0015010 filed on Sep. 7, 2007 in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a floor plank sheet, more particularlyto a floor plank sheet enabling adjustment of position duringinstallation. When the upper layer of a floor plank sheet is bonded tothe lower layer of another floor plank sheet, a non-adhesive portionformed in part of an adhesive portion enables an operator to adjust theposition of the floor plank sheet.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The floor plank refers to a material bonded on a floor and having asurface to be worn down. In general, thin board- or laminated paper-typesheets are used indoors, rather than tiles or ceramics.

The conventional laminated paper-type sheets are made with apredetermined width and extendable in the length direction, and are cutaccording to the area of the corresponding floor. In case the floorshape does not coincide with the width of the laminated paper, theremaining portion of the laminated paper is cut off, or the insufficientportion is compensated by overlapping the laminated paper.

Recently, blocks of regular size are used for flooring. In general,after applying adhesives on the floor surface, the block-type floorplanks are bonded thereon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to enable the adjustment ofposition of floor planks during installation.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent the edge of thefloor plank from directly contacting the pre-applied adhesive, so thatthe adhesive may not be pushed to away, lumped at the portion overlappedwith the neighboring plank, or exposed out of the upper layer of thefloor plank.

The present invention has been made in an effort to solve theabove-described problems associated with the prior art.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a double-layered floorplank having an non-adhesive portion, the floor plank comprising a lowerlayer contacting the floor, and an upper layer laminated on the lowerlayer, adhesive portions being formed on the lower surface of the upperlayer and the upper surface of the lower layer, respectively, byapplying an adhesive, the upper layer being laminated on the uppersurface of the lower layer, so that the lower surface of the upper layerand the upper surface of the lower layer have a height difference, and anon-adhesive portion without being exposed to the adhesive being formedin part of the adhesive portion of the upper layer.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a floor plank,wherein the non-adhesive portion is formed only along one direction onthe adhesive portion of the upper layer of the floor plank.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a floor plank,wherein the non-adhesive portion is formed along the length direction ofthe adhesive portion of the upper layer, by not applying the adhesive.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a floor plank,wherein the non-adhesive portion is formed intermittently along thelength direction of the adhesive portion.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a floor plank,wherein the edge portion where the adhesive portion of the lower surfaceof the upper layer contacts the side surface of the upper layer istrimmed in the shape of C.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a floor plank,wherein the C-trimming is formed intermittently on the edge portionwhere the adhesive portion of the lower surface of the upper layercontacts the side surface of the upper layer.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a floor plank,wherein the non-adhesive portion is formed on the adhesive portion ofthe upper layer by attaching a non-adhesive material.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a floor plank,wherein the non-adhesive material is paper, fabric or special sheet.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a floor plank,wherein the upper layer of the floor plank is made of wood.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a floor plank,wherein a non-adhesive portion without being exposed to the adhesivebeing formed in part of the adhesive portion of the lower layer.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a floor plank,wherein the non-adhesive portion is formed only along one direction onthe adhesive portion of the lower layer of the floor plank.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a floor plank,wherein the non-adhesive portion is formed along the length direction ofthe adhesive portion of the lower layer, by not applying the adhesive.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a floor plank,wherein the non-adhesive portion is formed intermittently along thelength direction of the adhesive portion.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a floor plank,wherein the non-adhesive portion is formed along the length direction ofthe adhesive portion of the lower layer as a groove.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a floor plank,wherein the groove formed intermittently along the length direction ofthe adhesive portion.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a floor plank,wherein the non-adhesive portion is formed on the adhesive portion ofthe lower layer by attaching a non-adhesive material.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a floor plank,wherein the non-adhesive material is paper, fabric or special sheet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features of the present invention will now bedescribed in detail with reference to certain exemplary embodimentsthereof illustrated by the accompanying drawings which are givenhereinbelow by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative ofthe present invention, and wherein:

FIGS. 1 to 4 are bottom perspective assembly view, bottom perspectiveview, side assembly view and perspective view schematically illustratingthe floor plank according to an embodiment of the present invention,respectively.

FIGS. 5 to 7 are bottom perspective view, side assembly view andperspective view schematically illustrating the floor plank according toanother embodiment of the present invention with a different type ofnon-adhesive portion, respectively.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views schematically illustrating the floorplank according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarilyto scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of variouspreferred features of the present invention. The specific designfeatures of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, forexample, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapesthereof will be determined in part by the particular intendedapplication and use environment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the drawingsattached hereinafter, wherein like numerals refer to like elementsthroughout. The embodiments are described below so as to explain thepresent invention by referring to the figures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the assembly ofthe floor plank (1) according to an embodiment of the present invention.As illustrated in the figure, the side of a floor plank (1) adjoins theside of another floor plank (1). Preferably, as shown in the figure, theposition of the floor plank (1) to be fixed is adjusted by slanting thefloor plank (1) so that the floor is completed.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective view and side assembly view schematicallyillustrating the floor plank (1) according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, respectively. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, thefloor plank (1) of the present invention has a double-layer structure ofan upper layer (10) and a lower layer (20), the upper layer (10) beinglaminated on the lower layer (20), so that the upper layer (10) and thelower layer (20) have a height difference. At the portion where thelower surface of the upper layer (10) and the upper surface of the lowerlayer (20) are not overlapped each other, that is at the adhesiveportions (11, 21), an adhesive (30) is applied in advance. Asillustrated in the figure, the adhesive portion (21) of the lower layer(20) of one floor plank (1) is placed and fixed on the adhesive portion(11) of the upper layer (10) of the neighboring floor plank (1). Anon-adhesive portion is formed in part of the adhesive portion (11). Thenon-adhesive portion provided in part of the adhesive portion of thefloor plank enables the adjustment of position of the floor plank duringinstallation, thereby preventing the fixing of the floor plank at wrongposition.

The adhesive portion (11, 21) formed on the upper layer (10) and thelower layer (20) is extended in L-form when the upper layer (10) and thelower layer (20) of the floor plank (1) are rectangles. Preferably, theupper layer (10) is laminated on the lower layer (20), so that the sidesthat form the L-form are extended by the same length to each direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the adhesive (30) is pre-applied on the lowersurface of the upper layer (10) and the upper surface of the lower layer(20), so that the upper layer (10) and the lower layer (20) may bebonded. The adhesive portion (11) of the upper layer (10) of the floorplank (1) to be installed is placed on the adhesive portion (21) of thelower layer (20) of the floor plank (1) which was installed earlier. Thefloor plank (1) to be installed is slanted, so that the side surface ofthe upper layer (10) of the floor plank (1) to be installed may contactthe side surface of the upper layer (10) of the floor plank (1) whichwas installed earlier. The non-adhesive portion formed in part of theadhesive portion (21) of the lower layer (20) enables an operator toadjust the position of the floor plank (1) during installation. That is,the non-adhesive portion prevents the adhesive portion (11) of the upperlayer (10) of the floor plank (1) to be installed from being bonded andfixed to the adhesive portion (21) of the lower layer (20) of the floorplank (1) which was installed earlier, and enables the adjustment of theposition at which the edge portion where the adhesive portion (11) ofthe upper layer (10) and the side surface of the upper layer (10) adjoincontacts the lower layer (20) of the floor plank (1) which was installedearlier, thereby it is possible to enable an operator to install thefloor plank (1) at right position.

Specifically, the non-adhesive portion may be formed on the adhesiveportion (11) in one or more areas. As seen in FIG. 2, it may be formedcontinuously along one direction, or intermittently. Even when thenon-adhesive portion is formed intermittently, it may prevent theadhesive portions (11, 21) of the neighboring floor planks (1) frombeing perfectly bonded to each other and, thus, enables the adjustmentof installation position. Preferably, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3,the non-adhesive portion formed on the adhesive portion (1 1) of theupper layer (10) of the floor plank (1) is formed at the edge portion ofthe adhesive portion (11).

In the mean while, when the upper layer (10) of the floor plank (1) ismade of wood, bonding to the floor and neighboring floor planks (1)become easier.

FIG. 4 shows perspective view of the floor plank (1) on which a groove(22) is provided. The non-adhesive portion may be formed on the lowerlayer (20) of the floor plank (1), as well as on the upper layer (10).The presence of the non-adhesive portion on either of the upper layer(10) or the lower layer (20) sufficiently prevents the two neighboringfloor planks (1) from being bonded to each other upon initial contact.However, when the non-adhesive portion is formed on the adhesiveportions (11, 21) of both the upper layer (10) and the lower layer (20),the adjustment of the installation position of the floor plank (1)becomes easier. As seen in FIG. 4, the non-adhesive portion ispreferably formed on the portion where the edge portion at which theadhesive portion (11) of the upper layer (10) and the side surface ofthe upper layer (10) of the floor plank (1) to be installed adjoincontacts directly, that is at the portion where the upper layer (10) andthe lower layer (20) of the floor plank (1) which was installed earliermeet each other.

FIGS. 1 to 4 are bottom perspective views, side assembly view andperspective view schematically illustrating the floor plank (1)according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein anon-adhesive material (13, 23) is attached on the adhesive portion (11,21), respectively. The non-adhesive material (13, 23) is attached on theupper surface of the adhesive portion (11, 21) after the application ofthe adhesive (30). The non-adhesive material (13, 23) may be paper,fabric, specially processed sheet, etc. and, preferably has a smallthickness, so that the height is not quite different from that of theadhesive portion.

Although a non-adhesive material (13, 23) was exemplified for thenon-adhesive portion in FIGS. 1 to 4, the non-adhesive portion may beformed in various forms, as long as it may prevent the floor planks (1)from being bonded completely by the adhesive (30) upon initial contact.

Particularly, the purpose may be attained by not applying the adhesive(30) in some part of the lower surface of the upper layer (10) and theupper surface of the lower layer (20) of the floor plank (1). Theportion on which the adhesive (30) is not applied may be formedcontinuously or intermittently along the length direction of theadhesive portion (11, 21).

FIGS. 5 and 6 are bottom perspective view and side assembly viewschematically illustrating the floor plank (1) according to stillanother embodiment of the present invention, wherein the edge portionwhere the adhesive portion (11) of the upper layer (10) and the sidesurface of upper layer (10) adjoin is trimmed in the shape of C (14),respectively. In the figure, the non-adhesive portion is described as aC-trimming (14). The C-trimming (14) is formed before or after applyingthe adhesive (30). Since the C-trimming (14) is with no adhesive (30) oronly little, if any, it can prevent the adhesive portion (11) of theupper layer (10) of the floor plank (1) to be installed from beingbonded completely by a single contact to the adhesive portion (21) ofthe lower layer (20) of the floor plank (1) which was installed earlier.The non-adhesive portion, that is the C-trimming (14), is formed only inpart of the adhesive portion (11) of the upper layer (10), and does notaffect the overall adhesion to the neighboring floor plank (1).

Since the end of the adhesive portion (11) of the upper layer (10)directly contacts the adhesive portion (21) of the lower layer (20) ofthe floor plank (1) to be installed, the C-trimming (14) of the end ofthe lower surface of the adhesive portion (11), as illustrated in FIG.6, prevents the adhesive (30) on the adhesive portion (21) of the lowerlayer (20) from being pushed away during the adjustment of theinstallation position of the floor plank (1). Also in the embodimentsillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, when the upper layer (10) of the floorplank (1) to be installed is placed on the lower layer (20) of the floorplank (1) which was installed earlier, the non-adhesive portion preventsthe edge portion where the side surface and the lower surface of theupper layer (10) of the neighboring floor plank (1) adjoin from directlycontacting the adhesive (30) applied on the adhesive portion (21),thereby preventing the floor plank (1) fixed wrongly upon initialcontact and preventing the formation of crevices between the neighboringfloor planks (1), which may be caused by the pushing away of theadhesive (30). Further, the problem of the adhesive being pushed awayfrom the edge of the floor plank and consequent uneven connection of thefloor planks can be prevented.

FIG. 7 is perspective view schematically illustrating the floor plank(1) with a non-adhesive portion provided with a groove (22) on the uppersurface of the lower layer (20). The groove (12) has a function likeC-trimming (14) formed on the upper layer (10) so that the groove (12)preventing the both floor plank (1) from being perfectly attached.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views schematically illustrating the floorplank (1 a) with a different shape according to yet another embodimentof the present invention. In such a long rectangular floor plank (1 a),the non-adhesive portion may be formed along both the length directionand the vertical direction, as shown in the figure. Alternatively, thenon-adhesive portion may be formed only along the length direction.

Such disposition of the non-adhesive portion only one side of theadhesive portion (11, 21) of the floor plank (1) rather all of theadhesive portion (11, 21) of the floor plank (1) may be employed evenwhen the floor plank (1) is in square form.

The floor plank according to the present invention enables theadjustment of adjustment of position during installation. Further, itprevents the problem of the adhesive being pushed away from the edge ofthe floor plank, thereby providing even connection of the floor planks.

The invention has been described in detail with reference to preferredembodiments thereof. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled inthe art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departingfrom the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which isdefined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. A double-layered floor plank (1) having an non-adhesive portion, thefloor plank (1) comprising a lower layer (20) contacting the floor, andan upper layer (10) laminated on the lower layer (20), adhesive portions(11, 21) being formed on the lower surface of the upper layer (10) andthe upper surface of the lower layer (20), respectively, by applying anadhesive (30), the upper layer (10) being laminated on the upper surfaceof the lower layer (20), so that the lower surface of the upper layer(10) and the upper surface of the lower layer (20) have a heightdifference, and a non-adhesive portion without being exposed to theadhesive (30) being formed in part of the adhesive portion (11) of theupper layer (10).
 2. The floor plank having an adhesive portionaccording to claim 1, wherein the non-adhesive portion is formed onlyalong one direction on the adhesive portion (11) of the upper layer (10)of the floor plank (1).
 3. The floor plank having an adhesive portionaccording to claim 1, wherein the non-adhesive portion is formed alongthe length direction of the adhesive portion (11) of the upper layer(10), by not applying the adhesive (30).
 4. The floor plank having anadhesive portion according to claim 3, wherein the non-adhesive portionis formed intermittently along the length direction of the adhesiveportion (21).
 5. The floor plank having an adhesive portion according toclaim 1, wherein the edge portion where the adhesive portion (11) of thelower surface of the upper layer (10) contacts the side surface of theupper layer (10) is trimmed in the shape of C (14).
 6. The floor plankhaving an adhesive portion according to claim 5, wherein the C-trimming(14) is formed intermittently on the edge portion where the adhesiveportion (11) of the lower surface of the upper layer (10) contacts theside surface of the upper layer (10).
 7. The floor plank having anadhesive portion according to claim 1, wherein the non-adhesive portionis formed on the adhesive portion (11) of the upper layer (10) byattaching a non-adhesive material (13).
 8. The floor plank having anadhesive portion according to claim 7, wherein the non-adhesive material(13) is paper, fabric or special sheet.
 9. The floor plank having anadhesive portion according to claim 1, wherein the upper layer (10) ofthe floor plank (1) is made of wood.
 10. The floor plank having anadhesive portion according to claim 1, wherein a non-adhesive portionwithout being exposed to the adhesive (30) being formed in part of theadhesive portion (21) of the lower layer (20).
 11. The floor plankhaving an adhesive portion according to claim 10, wherein thenon-adhesive portion is formed only along one direction on the adhesiveportion (21) of the lower layer (20) of the floor plank (1).
 12. Thefloor plank having an adhesive portion according to claim 10, whereinthe non-adhesive portion is formed along the length direction of theadhesive portion (21) of the lower layer (20), by not applying theadhesive (30).
 13. The floor plank having an adhesive portion accordingto claim 12, wherein the non-adhesive portion is formed intermittentlyalong the length direction of the adhesive portion (21).
 14. The floorplank having an adhesive portion according to claim 10, wherein thenon-adhesive portion is formed along the length direction of theadhesive portion (21) of the lower layer (20) as a groove (22).
 15. Thefloor plank having an adhesive portion according to claim 14, whereinthe groove (22) formed intermittently along the length direction of theadhesive portion (21).
 16. The floor plank having an adhesive portionaccording to claim 10, wherein the non-adhesive portion is formed on theadhesive portion (21) of the lower layer (20) by attaching anon-adhesive material (23).
 17. The floor plank having an adhesiveportion according to claim 16, wherein the non-adhesive material (23) ispaper, fabric or special sheet.